Mail chute



lJuly 1, 1930.' l H. M. KENNEDY 'MAIL CHUTE Filed March 17, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l July l, 1930. L H. M, KENNEDY 1,769,346

` MAIL CHUTE Filed March 17, 1928 s sheds-sheet `2 FIG. 6

- V-HucmmLKEnuIsm! BY; [m

, ATTQRN'E s- INVEN-IQR July 1, 1930.

H. M.. KENNEDY MAIL CHUTE Filed March 1'7, 1928' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HUGHJVLKENNEDY MMM/f@ ATTORNEYS Patented Julyv 1, 1930 e UNITED' Sfrias:

HUGH M.Y KENNEDY, F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA,r AssieNonY Torrita' dRoiaiiivr MITCHELL COMPANY LIMTED, 0F MONTREAL, -CANADA .j j

1 MAIL 'oiaUTn kApplication ined March 17, 1928'. :Serialj No," 262,449.

This invention relates to new and yuseful'improvements 1n mall chutes for conveying mail from the Lipper floors of a building to a mail receptacle below, and the .f

main object of the invention is to providea mail chute which will allow ,quick and easy access to the interior of the chute for cleanj ing or clearing same of any mailing matter which should become lodged in any part of the chute other than the receptacle.

According to my invention I provide a chute of channel cross section which is set into the wall of a building. The chute has inwardly projecting flanges or guides adapted to position removable panels which form the front of the chute. The panels are held in position by lmeans of straps. These straps are movable in the horizontal direction and' can be swung clear of the allow easy removal of same. v

lnl the drawingswhich-illustrate lmy ime panels to v proved chute Figure 1 is a front elevation of part of my improved type of chute.

Figure 2 is a part sectional side elevation of the chute taken on the line 2--2Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a part Jfront elevation of one type of locking strap.V for the panels.

Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of the strap shown in Figure-3.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the chute lshowing a modified type of locking strap.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the modiiied type of connection between the locking strap and the'juncti'onjbar as disclosed in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional end elevation of the strap shown in Figure Staken on the line Figure 8 is a perspective View showing the panel locking bar pivotally connected to the junction, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the connection shown in Figure 8, with parts broken away to clearly show the construction.

Figure 10` is a perspective view of the junction and panel lockingbars shown in Figures 5 to 7, parts being broken` away u to show the lug secured to the panel lock-V ing bar.

Referring *more* particularly to thedraW-iy ings, 11 designates a chutewhich is made yof channel cross section havingl inwardly eX- tending flanges or guides 12, near the front edge thereof. Thechute fitsfinto a recess 13 formed in the wall 14. ARemovably itting into the chute are thepanels 15 which are preferably provided with a'transparent central section fitting` into a metallic frame.-

bar.` by any suitablelock designated 19. The 4lock is not'shown in ,detail as anyforn the,-

well-known types may be used for this pur- .,pose. 'The bar 18a fits over the front and Ythe sides of the chute or the junction bars. In the preferred formshownVVV in Figures 3 l' and 4, theV legs 20 of the-barf18a are provided with elongated lugs 21, they ends gof which are roundedgfor thel purpose herein after described. These lugs lit into slots 23 formedin the legs 224 of the junction bar. Part of the said slots'is substantially equal in widthl to the width off-.the lugs, so that whenfthe' locking bar is in the closed position, the locking bar is prevented from vertical movement but can be moved lhorizontally. The lugs, when the locking bar vis pulled outwardly asshown in dotted lines, fitk into a. circular recess 24 equal in diameter to the same `to be pulled clear of the panel locking bars. When the locking'ispulled further, the lug vtits into the upwardly curved por vvtion 23a of the slot'23 and holds the locking clear of the upper edge. of thelower panel,

in proximity thereto.

#In the modified form shown in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive, the lugs 21a are formedl in *the junction strapse andthe slotsv 23aa're ltermed in the legs of they locking bar. --The slots are similar in shape to the slots 23 and, when the locking bar is pulled out, the circular recess 24a is pulled outwardly towards the lugs and allows the said locking bar to pivot to clear the panels, so that they` may be quickly removed.

The operation of thedevice is very simple. The locking bars, when unlocked, can be pulled outwardly and then swung clear to allow easy removal of the panels for cleana ing or clearing the chute of any mail which may be clogging up the chute, and when the curved slot is used, the locking bar may be' pulledoutwardly until the lug engages with the curved slot tovhold the locking bar clear of the lower panel to allow easy removal of same. The ittings are very inexpensive to manufacture and can be easily and quickly fitted into position.

HavingY thus described my what I claim is l. In a mail chute vof `channel cross section, junction straps surrounding three sides of the chute, cross bars supporting panels removably mounted in the chute, andv locking bars connected to the junctionl straps by lugs slidably and rotatably Vmounted in slots to allow the straps to be pulled from panel engaging position and swung clear of the adjacent edges of the panels. j

2. In a mail. chute of channel cross section, junction straps for the chute, panels invention,

' slidably iitted into the chute and resting on cross bars secured to the junction straps, locking bars adapted to engage with the adjacent edges or" the panels and to cover :the cross bars and the legs of the junction bars, lugs formed in the locking bars and engaging with slots formed in the junction bars, said slots being shaped tohold the bars in engagement with the panels and to allow the locking bars to be pulled forward and swung clear of the edge of the panel.

3. In a mail chute of channel cross section, junction straps for the chute, panelsl tting against guides Jformed in the chute and resting on cross bars secured to the junction straps, locking bars adapted Y to cover the adjacent edges of the panel and alsoto cover the cross bar and the side legs of the junction bar, said locking bars having` Aelongated lugs riding in` slots in the junction bars, said slots having a circular recess to allow the lugs to rotate ltherein when the locking bars are pulled outwardly to clear the panel edges. Y

l, The combination of a mail chute channel shaped in cross section, junction straps extending around the rear and sides of the chute, cross bars secured to the sides of the junction straps to extend across the` Jfront of the chute, panels slidably tted in the chute and resting on said cross bars, locking bars adapted to engage-adjoining edges of adjacent panels and to cover the crossA bars,

said locking bars being provided with sidev legs te'lescoping the sides of the junction straps, horizontally dispcsed elongated lugs carried by the sides oiV the junction straps and fitting elongated slots formed in the legs of the locking bars, said slots being provided intermediate their length with enlarged portions and being suiciently narrow at opposite sides of said enlarged por-V tions to prevent turning of the-lugs except when the latter are disposed `in the enlarged portions of the slots by outward movement of the locking bars and means for securing the locking bars to said cross bars.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto'set my hand. j j v f HUGH l\I.'KENNEDY. 

